College of Engineering Named For Former Regent and AT&T CEO Edward E. Whitacre Jr.

$25 million gift will help university maintain competitive edge.

Alumnus Edward E. Whitacre Jr. retired as CEO of AT&T Inc. in June 2007. During his
time there, he helped grow the company into the world’s largest communications company,
re-shaping the telecommunications landscape.

With a reported worldwide shortage of engineers and graduates in related fields,
Texas Tech University and AT&T Inc. are doing their part to ensure a first-class
engineering education for students in the coming decades.

On Nov. 12, administrators acknowledged gifts of $25 million from AT&T and friends
of the company to the College of Engineering in honor of Edward E. Whitacre Jr.,
former Texas Tech regent and former chairman of the board and CEO of AT&T. Officials
also announced the college will be named the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering.

“America’s future competitiveness depends on the strength of our nation’s educational
system,” said Randall Stephenson, AT&T chairman and chief executive officer. “Ed
Whitacre is a long-time and strong advocate for education at every level. I can’t
think of a better way to recognize his leadership and support of education than by
establishing a lasting legacy with the Whitacre College of Engineering at Texas Tech.”

Whitacre, a 1964 Texas Tech industrial engineering graduate, credits much of his
success to the quality education he received at Texas Tech, and it is his dream that
future students have the same opportunity.

Chancellor Kent Hance, and long-time friend of Whitacre, thanked AT&T for its gift
and for the opportunity to honor the outstanding businessman and alumnus.

“Texas Tech University has no better friend or loyal supporter than Ed Whitacre,”
said Hance. “AT&T’s gift will allow the Edward E. Whitacre Jr. College of Engineering
to remain on the cutting edge of engineering education by positioning it to attract
a diverse and quality student body, and to educate future college students about
possible engineering careers.”

In 1985 Texas Tech named Whitacre a distinguished engineer of the College of Engineering.
He was appointed to the Board of Regents in 1993, and was chairman from 1995-1998.
In 1996, the Rawls College of Business honored him with the Outstanding Chief Executive
Award.

Whitacre was instrumental in securing some of the largest gifts to the university,
including contributions from the SBC Foundation to create endowed scholarships and
endowed faculty positions at the university. At the request of then-Chancellor John
T. Montford, he served as national campaign chairman for Texas Tech’s Horizon Fundraising
Campaign from 1996 to 2001.

“I’ve had the unique opportunity to work for Mr. Whitacre as chancellor of Texas
Tech and as a part of AT&T,” Montford said. “His drive and winning spirit embodies
everything associated with this university and its world-class engineering program.”

A native of Ennis, Texas, Whitacre began his career at Southwestern Bell Telephone
in Lubbock in 1963. He progressed through a series of assignments in the company’s
operational departments in Texas, Arkansas and Kansas.

From 1982 to 1985, Whitacre headed Southwestern Bell’s Kansas Division, and then
moved to corporate headquarters where he served as group president, vice president-revenues
and public affairs, and vice chairman and chief financial officer. In October 1988,
Whitacre was made president and chief operating officer, responsible for the company’s
six primary subsidiaries. In 1990, he became chairman and CEO of SBC, which changed
its name to AT&T in 2005 after SBC acquired AT&T Corp.

During Whitacre’s 1990-2007 tenure as chairman and chief executive officer, the company
differentiated itself through diversification, a disciplined growth strategy and
strategic mergers and acquisitions. Whitacre retired in 2007.

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The Texas Tech College of Engineering has educated engineers to meet the technological needs of Texas, the nation and
the world since 1925.